The Prangsta Experience

The Prangsta Experience

24 February, 2009
by: Lowri

If you've been to a boutique UK festival in the last three or four years, chances are you've clapped eyes on one of Prangsta's creations. Mythical creatures, minotaurs, white rabbits, demons, nymphs, Gods and Goddesses, kings, queens, princes and princesses have all been in attendance at some of the UK's finest festivals – and all have been created by the hands of Melanie Wilson.

Mel started Prangsta in 1998. 'I collect old things' she says. 'I just started messing round at first, after studying fashion at university, customising vintage clothes I picked up in markets. I never thought about making a business out of them.' Cut to today, and Prangsta has a shop rammed full of an uncountable number of vintage costumes – all either made or modified by Mel and her team. She creates her masterpieces in her 1500sq ft design studio, where she also passes on her expertise to students in her Dressmaking and Tailoring Classes. The touring string to the Prangsta bow is taking her shop round the UK's  festivals hiring out her designs to patrons from her 'Burlesque Boudoir' and offering on-site wardrobe for event organisers and performers.

Her work is simply stunning. She's an incredible talent. 'I feel like I've found a corner in the market' she says, 'Especially now with the popularity of burlesque and cabaret.' The sky is the limit for Prangsta in today's party devoted times. There are literally hundreds of vintage and retro events occurring all over the city, and people have more to spend – or are willing to spend more - on parties than ever before. Everyone wants to look as fly as possible at these events; creating the right look is all about creating the right atmosphere and magic - and Prangsta have the means to transform you into whoever you want to be....

They have the potential to create an outfit for any occasion – from true vintage high class glam to sexy, decadent burlesque and cabaret, members of the circus, Halloween creatures, vintage couture, myths and legends, uniforms, masquerade balls, characters from books and films – the possibilities are endless.

The shop is a fancy dress lover's dream of course. Plush, deep velvet tailcoats are crushed up against original, vintage ruffled shirts. Corseted dresses spill out into extravagant layers of lace, glinting and brocaded, made to measure, available for purchase and best of all, gathered in their multitude for whoever decides to don them next. 

In order to experience the full Prangsta experience, I head up to their shop in New Cross Gate for a fitting in preparation for the Secret Garden Party Bacchanalia Ball on Saturday. I have no idea what I want but the theme is Dionysus – not exactly the kind of thing you can pick up at Primark...

Entering the shop, I am immediately immersed into that feeling of daunted, excited quiet which comes from searching for something you want and then stumbling upon an excess of it all of a sudden. I don't know where to start.  Rifling through the racks and racks of amazing clothes, I feel like a little girl in my mum's fancy dress chest again. Picking out a beautiful brocade, corseted dress with a full, petal-like skirt I feel a little overwhelmed. Once it's on however, it's perfect. Mel accessorizes it with some bronze ivy and an amazing headpiece with massive horns. I look like a demon Queen of the Underworld.

Putting on an outfit so grand changes your entire demeanour. And I wonder what fate will befall my new character when surrounded by the Gods, Goddesses, demons and nymphs of the Bacchanalia Ball on Saturday. I'm already mentally writing her extravagant, depraved history. I hope I can keep up...

To get the Prangsta Experience yourself visit: http://www.prangsta.co.uk

Prangsta Costumiers
304 New Cross Road
London
SE14 6AF
020 8694 9869

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Lowri